Minterne Apartments

On this page

• Overview
• Learning culture
• Safe systems, pathways and transitions
• Safeguarding
• Involving people to manage risks
• Safe environments
• Safe and effective staffing
• Infection prevention and control
• Medicines optimisation

Safe – this means we looked for evidence that people were protected from abuse and avoidable harm.

This is the first assessment for this newly registered service. This key question has been rated Good. This meant people were safe and protected from avoidable harm.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The provider’s culture was proactive, positive and based on openness, honesty and people’s safety. There were thorough, up to date processes that enabled learning from incidents where people may have been put at risk. This promoted people’s safety as a priority whilst not limiting their choices and empowered them to take acceptable risks. The registered manager, and staff listened to concerns about safety and investigated and reported safety incidents. Lessons were learnt to continually identify and embed good practice.

The provider worked with people and their relatives to establish and maintain safe systems of care, in which safety was managed and monitored. They made sure there was continuity of care, including when people moved between different services. There were up to date processes, and systems that were followed, enabling continuity of safe care, and joined up working. The provider's policies, procedures, and processes were in line with current, relevant legislation.

The provider worked with people and healthcare partners to understand what being safe meant to them and the best way to achieve that. Staff concentrated on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. The provider shared concerns quickly and appropriately. The provider had efficient safeguarding policies, procedures, and processes that followed current, relevant legislation. The systems demonstrated safety concerns were reported to the registered manager, recorded, frequently monitored, and raised with appropriate bodies in a timely way. As appropriate, people and those important to them were involved in this process and informed about what action would be taken to keep people safe. Staff had a clear focus on improving people’s lives while protecting their right to live in safety, free from bullying, harassment, abuse, discrimination, avoidable harm and neglect. A person said, “I feel very safe here.”

The provider worked with people to understand and manage risks by thinking holistically. Staff provided care to meet people’s needs that was safe, supportive and enabled people to do the things that mattered to them. A person told us, “You can do your own thing in your apartment.” People had risks to them assessed, and there were up to date care plans in place to help staff prevent or minimise the identified risks. The impact of this was staff had up to date information about the action they should take to manage these risks and keep people safe. Staff were enabled, and supported by systems to report concerns, incidents, and accidents in a timely way, minimise risks, and

avoid them being repeated. This enabled the provider to have oversight of and be able to manage risks. The management team completed regular audits and updated care plans if new risks were identified. A staff member said, “People’s safety is so important and the way to identify risks to them, is by discussing them with people.”

The provider detected and controlled potential risks in the care environment. The processes in place were followed. They enabled identification of potential risks and hazards in people’s flats. Staff made sure equipment, facilities and technology supported the delivery of safe care.

The provider made sure that people’s needs were met by enough staff who were qualified, skilled and experienced. Staff received effective support, supervision and development. They worked together well to provide safe care that met people’s individual needs. The staff recruitment process was thorough, and records demonstrated it was followed, and regularly reviewed. Staff received training that was comprehensive and based on the Skills for Care 'Common induction standards’. They form part of the Care Certificate which is an agreed set of standards that define the knowledge, skills and behaviours expected of specific job roles in the health and social care sectors. Disciplinary and capability processes were fair and regularly reviewed to ensure there was no disadvantage based on any specific protected equality characteristics. Processes enabled staff to receive appropriate, comprehensive training that was relevant to their role. They were supported to deliver safe care by receiving regular supervision, appraisals, development support, and being encouraged to participate in service improvement. A person told us, “They [staff] are always there when we need them, and nothing is too much bother.”

The provider assessed and managed the risk of infection. They detected and controlled the risk of it spreading and shared concerns with appropriate agencies promptly. There were efficient systems and training to maximise infection control and ensure a clean, hygienic environment for people to live and staff to work in. A person said, “Everywhere is kept very clean.”

The provider made sure that if people required support with medicines and treatments it was done safely and met people’s needs, capacities and preferences. This was confirmed by relatives who said staff made sure people received the support they required in a timely way. There were processes that were followed, recorded, and audited. Staff received appropriate training that was refreshed regularly, and their knowledge was good.